Apparatus for fraying strip fabrics



Nov. 7, 1950 T. G. NANSON APPARATUS FOR FRAYING STRIP FABRICS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 30, 1949 INVENTOR.

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Nov. 7, 1950 1'. G. NANSON 2,529,042

APPARATUS FOR FRAYING STRIP FABRICS Filed Sept. 30, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 YZ/OMAS 6 MlV-S'O/V,

INVENTOR.

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Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED" sra'rss PATENT -orrrc1:

7 Thomas G. N anson, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 30, 1949,'Se'rial No. 118,899

This invention relates generally to the mechanical fraying of fabric materials, and is directed particularly to novel methods and apparatus for fraying the edge or edges of strip fabrics to be used typically for ornamental trimmings on such objects as lamp shades, draperies and the like.

My primary object is to accomplish the continuous fraying of such strip materials in a manner productive of a highly attractive and durable product, and by such simplicity and speed of operation as to render the frayed strip stock available at costs well below those at which the materials could be made by the conventional hand methods. duction of the frayed strip in a manner such that it is given adjacent its frayed edge a definite and continuous rufiie which enhances considerably the attractive appearance of the product. and it's' superiority for many decorative purposes. In accordance with the invention,- the strip stock to be frayed is out on a bias, i. e., with two or more courses or series of the threads running angularly or diagonally across the strip, thus rendering the ends'of'one series of the threads susceptible to being substantially permanently deflected laterally of the fabric and released from woven relation with one or more other series Of the threads, by advancing the material to the fraying mechanism as later described. The invention contemplates generally the continuous passage of the bias-cut strip stock against a sup port positioned opposite a means for exerting 20 Claims.

Also contemplated, is the proagainst the edge portion of the strip a fraying force, all in a manner such that the applied force deflects and frees one of the thread series to a predetermined distance from the'edge of "the fabric, while simultaneously the pressural and Working conditions of the mechanism act to ruflle the fabric continuously along and adjacent its frayed edge.

According to a preferred though typical form,

the fraying mechanism employs a-pair of rolls or wheels between which the strip stock is advanced, at least one of the wheels acting to engage and deflect outwardly the threads to produce the fraying. As will later appear, the wheelshave opposedcomplementary strip engaging surfaces so shaped as not only to fray the-fabfic but also to produce the ruflled deformation referred to in the foregoing, particularly under the influence position of the fraying wheels. Particularly effective results have been obtained using brushlike rolls capable of at least partially penetrating the fabric, and composed preferably of masses of radial fibers presenting roughened surfaces at the wheel peripheries, the fibers being compacted axially of the wheelsto give both proper body to the fiber masses 'and also angular peripheral faces between which the fabric passes.

The invention has various additional features and objects, all of which together with certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, will be understood from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, in which: a

Fig. 1 is a general view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention in front elevation;

Fig. "2 is. a plan view of Fig. 1;

- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view showing the driving motor control switch;

Fig. 4 is a fargmentary plan view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing one pair of the fraying wheels;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken at the engaging wheel peripheries;

Fig; 6 is a perspective view' of the frayed strip;

Fig, '7 is a view showingin perspective a variational embodiment of the invention; and

, Fig. 8 is a plan View of the fraying member shown in Fig. 7. v

Referring first to the general showing of Fig. 1, the machine may have any suitable frame structure such as the support and base indicated at is and H, on which is mounted a prime mover such as motor 12. The motor drive is transmitted to an appropriate speed reduction device [3 by way of belt [4 extending about the'motor pulley i5 and pulley H3 on the high speed shaft ll of the reduction unit. The latter has a driven, low speed shaft l8 carrying a pulley1l9 which drives through belt 20 a pulley .2l'on a'secondshaft '22; pulley 23 on shaft 2% which is carried by arm 25'- pivotally supported at 26 for oscillatory adjust Belt i l also extends about and drives a ment. Another pulley 2i similarly carried by shaft 28 on arm 29 pivoted at 38, is suitably driven; v as by belt 28! on a second pulley 29! carried by the shaft 51. a

;A roll 93901 the strip'stock tobe frayed is pivoted at 33 and'having a head at 34 pressed against the roll surface by spring 35. 'From the roll the strip stock 36 passes over guides 37 andi 38, the latter (see Fig. 3) being associated with a switch 39 connected in the circuit of motor i2 and comprising a finger t urged by coil spring 4! against the strip 36. The function of the switch 39 is to automatically discontinuethe motor operation when the last of the strip stock has passed the guide 38, at which time finger 43 directly contacts the surface of the metal guide 38, also connected in the motor circuit, to short out and stop the motor through the conventional circuit control.

The strip then is advanced between a pair of wheels 42 and 53 carried respectively by shafts 24 and I8, acting to fray and ruffle the material along one edge, following which the strip passes over guide 44, is given a reversing twist at 45, and thence passes over guides 46, .1 and 48 to be advanced between wheels 9 and 55], carried repectively by shafts 22 and 28, which fray and ruflle the opposite edge of the strip. The finished strip, frayed and ruffled along both edges, is taken off past guide 55 for such further disposition as may be desired. The two pairs of fraying wheels 42, 43 and 49, 5E] are similar, and a description of one of the pairs with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 will suffice for both.

The wheel 42 has a body 52 composed of a brush-like mass of radial. fibers confined between washers or plates 53 and 54 and having yielding surface characteristics. Preferably the fiber mass contains a filler of wax or other equivalent material to give added body to the fiber mass and to some extent lubricate the angular strip engaging face 55 of the wheel which presents a surface sufiiciently roughened by reason of the fiber ends, to effectively and permanently deflect one parallel series of the threads laterally of the fabric, and in so doing, strip such threads out of woven relation with the others so that when so displaced the threads have free end portions presenting a uniform fray. As previously indicated, the fraying action of the brushes is due in part to the capacity of their fibers or bristles to at least partially penetrate the fabric.

The peripheral face 55 of the wheel may be given the illustrated angularity in any suitable manner, though preferably through deformation of the fibers under the influence of an annular pressure plate 5% the flange 5! of which angularly engages the outer end face Ofthe fiber mass near its edge to deform and shape the working portion of the wheels substantially as shown. Axial displacement of the fiber wheel responsive to pressure applied by plate 55 as nut 58 is tightened, is resisted by coil spring 59.

Wheel 43, or at least the strip-working portion thereof, similarly has a body 60 composed of a mass of radial wax filled fibers confined between Washers 6i and 62. As in the case of wheel 42, the working face 68a of wheel 43 is angularly deformed in complementary relation to the periphery 55 of the other Wheel, by the thrust of an an- .nular pressure plate 63 bearing against and defleeting the fiber mass near its outer extent as nut 54 is tightened to force the pressure plate against the fibers. The wheel 43 contains an annular recess 55 which may have a metal lining 66 for reception of the fabric strip and a belt 51.

Referring to Fig. 1, the fabric strip 35 passing between the wheels is held positively against the face of wheel 43, and within recess es, by belt B'I passing over idler pulleys 68 and 69, the latter being carried by an arm pivoted at H, which has an adjustable coil spring connection 52 actmg .to properly tenison the belt. A second. 9 .1 2

' at corresponding intervals.

l3 similarly engaging wheel 49 (corresponding to wheel @3) is carried by idler pulleys i4 and '15.

Wheels 42 and 59 are bodily pressed against the strip material being frayed, as by adjustable spring controls l6 yieldably urging arms 25 and 2% and their Wheels, toward the wheels 43 and 35. Each adjustment I6 typically may comprise a link ll pivotally connecting the wheel arm with a guide pin 78 received .Within the bore of a nut l5 threaded into the support 80. The inner end of the nut bears against a coil spring at confined against a fiange or washer 82, all in av manner such that adjustment of the nut varies the spring compression and therefore the thrust transmitted to the fraying wheel.

In considering the operation of the apparatus, assume the strip fabric 33 to be fed between the wheels 42 and 43, and specifically between their angular faces and 68a as particularly shown in Figs. 4. and 5. Wheel 42 has a high peripheral speed as compared with the peripheral speed of wheel 43, the ratio of about 50 to 1. Higher or lower speed ratios may be employed where required in accordance with variations in the composition or weave of different-fabrics to be frayed. With the wh els being driven in opposite directions, the effect of the relative high speed rotation of wheel 42 is two-fold: First, throughout an extent of say inch inwardly from the edge 36a of the strip, wheel 42 acts to deflect laterally and free theend extents of the series of bias threads running forwardly at that edge in the direction of the strip travel, thus producing a fraying which is complete in the sense that such deflection free all the threads from woven relation and tends to give them uniform lateral end freedom. Second, inwardly of and ad acent the frayed edge portion of the strip. the peripheral and relative speed a sociation of the whe ls appears to produce a distinct and. permanent ruilling of the strip, as indicated at 84 in Fig. 6, an effect which mav be additive to certain woven thread grouping tendencies of the first described effect. A ruffiing effect apparently is created by an irregularized friction relation between wheels 42 and the strip, and probably by reason of the tendency of the high spe d wheel to intermittently and locally bring together the fabric threads with re ultant formation of ruilles S multaneously with the described fraying and ruffling action of the wheels, the strip material is being po itively ad- Vanced between them at a uniform rate by reason of the engagement and confinement of the strip again t the surface of wheels 43 by the belt 7 devices 81, finallvto be taken off past a second assembly of guides 89. The fraying device *3! comprises a blade 93, having a more or less sharp strip engaging edge, pivotally carried at ill on a suitable support S2. The blade is urged against the'topand edge surface of the strip by compression spring 95, and the blade pressure down wardly against the fabric is taken by a pad 94 over which the edge of the strip passes. The strip preferably is given yielding support against running forwardly of the direction of the fabric travel. By mounting the blade 90 in relation to the strip 85 and pad 94 at an elevation such that the working edge of the blade tends to lie across the strip an appreciable distance from its edge, the bladewill produce some ruflling effect as indicated at 95, although not to the degree attainable by the first described form of the invention.

1. Apparatus for fraying the edge of a woven fabric strip having oppo itel biased threads, compri ing a support engaged by one surface of the strip adjacent said edge, means exerting a thre d fraying force against the opposite surface of the strip locally in proximity to said edge, and means for producing relative movement of said m ans and strip longitudinally of the strip, said force exerting m ans acting to laterally defl et and free the end extents of the fabric threads ad a ent said edge out of woven relation While retaining the Woven condition of the thread inwardlv of the strip.

2. Apparatus for fraying the edge of a wo en fabric strip having oppositely bia ed threads, compri inga support engaged by one surface of the str ad acent said edge. m ans exerting a thr ad fra in force again t the opposite surface of the strip locally in proximity to said edge, means laterally guiding said strip for straight line movement pa t said force exerting means, and means for producing relative movement of said force exerting m ans and strip longitudinallv of the trip. sa d force exert ng means acting to lat rall deflect and fr e the end extents of the fabr c threads adia ent aid ed e out of woven relation while retaining the woven condition of the threads inwardl of the strip.

3. Apparatus for fraying the edge of a wov n fabric strip havin oppo itely biased threads, com rising upporting means en a ed by one surfa e of the stri ad acent said ed e means exerting a thread fraying force against the onpo ite surface of the strip locall in p o im ty to said ed e. one of said means b ing yie dably en ged a a nst said strip, and means for producing relative movement of said force exerting means and strip longitud nally of the strip. said force exert ng m an-s acting to laterally deflect and free the end extents of the fa r c threads adiacent said ed e out of wov n relat on while reta ning the wov n condition of the threads inwardly of the strip.

4. Apparatus for fra ing the edge of a woven fabric strip having oppo itely bia ed threads. comprising a support engaged by one surface of the strip ad acent said edge, means acting to penetrate and exert a ainst the opposite surface of the st p a thread fraying force. m ans laterally guiding said strip for straight line movement pa t aid force exerting means; and means forproducing relative movement of said force exerting means and strip longitudinally of the strip so that one course of the strip threads extends angularly and forwardly of the direction of travel of the strip, said force exerting means acting to laterally deflect and free the end extents of the fabric threads adiacent said edge out of woven relation while retaining the woven condition of the threads inwardly of the strip.

5. Apparatus for fraying the edge of a woven fabric strip having oppositely biased threads, comprising means forming a pair of bearing surfaces adapted to engage opposite faces of the strip adjacent said edge, means for producing relative movement of said surfaces and strip longitudinally of the strip with the strip positioned between said surfaces, one of said surfaces engaging the strip only locally near said edge and acting to laterally deflect and free the threads adjacent said edge of the strip to fray said edge thereof while retaining the woven condition of the threads inwardly from the frayed portion, and means for pressing one of said surfaces against the strip to frictionally rufile the strip adjacent its frayed portion.

6. Apparatus for fraying the edgeof a woven fabric strip having oppositely biased threads, comprising two pairs of members each pair adapted to bear against opposite faces a continuous extent of the strip respectively adjacent opposite edges thereof, means for producing relative movement of said members and strip longitudinally of the strip with the strip positioned between the members of each of said pairs, one member in each pair acting to laterally deflect and free the threads adjacent said edge of the strip to fray the edge thereof, and guide means for twisting the strip between said pairs of members so that said pairs fray opposite edges of the strip.

'7. Apparatus for fraying the edge of a woven fabric strip haying oppositely biased threads, comprising supporting means adapted to bear against a face of the strip adjacent said edge, a member having a roughened peripheral surface rotatable longitudinally of the strip and bearing against the face thereof opposite the first mentioned face, and means for producing relative movement of said rotatable member and strip longitudinally of the strip with the strip positioned between said member and the supporting means, said member acting to laterally deflect and free the threads locally adjacent said edge of the strip to fray the edge thereof While retaining the woven condition of the threads inwardly from said frayed portion.

8. Apparatus for fraying the edge of a woven fabric strip having oppositely biased threads, comprising a pair of members adapted to bear against opposite faces of the strip adjacent said edge, one of said members comprising a rotatable circular mass of radial fibers, and means for producing relative movement of said members and strip longitudinally of the strip with the strip positioned between said members, said fibers acting to laterally deflect and free the threads adjacent said edge of the strip to fray said edge thereof while retaining the woven condition of the threads inwardly from the frayed portion.

9. Apparatus for fraying the edge of a woven fabric strip having oppositely biased threads,

comprising a pair of rotatable wheels adapted to bear peripherall against opposite faces of the strip adiacent said edge, means directing the strip between the wheel peripheries, and means for rotatably driving one of the wheels to ad- Vance the strip between them. one of said wheels having a rough surface acting locally against the strip adjacent said edge to laterally deflect and free the threads adjacent said edge of the strip to fray the edge thereof while retaining the woven condition of the threads inwardly from the frayed portion.

10. Apparatus for fraying the edge of a wovenfabric strip having oppositely biased threads,

comprising a pair of rotatable wheels adapted'to bear peripherally against opposite faces of the strip adjacent said edge, means directing the strip between the wheel peripheries, and means for rotatably driving said wheels at peripherally differential speeds during advancement of the strip between them, the higher peripheral speed wheel having a rough surface acting to laterally deflect and free the threads adjacent said edge of the strip to fray the edge thereof.

11. Apparatus for fraying the edge of a woven fabric strip having oppositely biased threads, comprising a pair of rotatable wheels adapted to bear peripherally against opposite faces of the strip adiacent said edge, each of said wheels comprising a compact mass of radial fibers, means directing the strip between the wheel peripheries, and means for rotatably driving one of the wheels to advance the strip between them, the fibers of one of said wheels acting to laterally deflect and free the threads adjacent said edge of the strip to fray the edge thereof.

12. Apparatus for fraying the edge of a woven fabric strip having oppositely biased threads, comprising a pair of rotatable wheels adapted to bear peripherally against opposite faces of the strip adjacent said edge, means directing the strip between the wheel peripheries, means for rotatably driving one of the wheels to advance the strip between them, and bristles carried by one of said wheels and presenting a rough surface acting to laterally deflect and free the threads ad acent sa d edge of the strip to fray the edge thereof, said wheels engaging the strip adjacent and along its edge portion being fra ed and acting to ruffle the strip adjacent its frayed edge.

13. Apparatus for fra ing the edge of a woven fabric strip having oppo it ly biased threads, comprising a pair of rotatable wheel adapted to bear peripherally a ainst opposite faces of the strip ad acent said edge, one of said wheels having a peripheral tapered strip engaging surface opposite a complementary tapered peripheral surface of the other wheel, means directing the strip between said surfaces of the wheels, and means producing rotation of the whee s at differ ential peripheral spe ds to advance the strip be tween them. one of the whe ls carr ing a mass of bristles act ng to laterall deflect and free the threads adjacent said edge of the strip to fray the edge thereof and acting also to rufiie the strip along and adiacent to its frayed edge.

14.. Apparatus for fra ing the ed e of a woven fabric strip having oppo itely biased threads, comprising a pair of rotatable wheels adapted to bear peripherally against oppo ite faces of the strip adiacent said edge, one of said wheels having a peripheral tap red strip engaging surface opposite a com lementary tapered p r pheral surface of the other wheel, means directing the strip between said surfaces of the wheels, and means producing rotation of the wheels at differential peripheral speeds during advancement advance the strip between th m, said wheels each comprising a compact mass of radial fibers and the fibers of the high r peripheral speed wheel act ng to laterally deflect and free the threads adjacent said edge of the strip to fray the edge thereof and acting also to ruflie the strip along and adjacent its frayed edge.

15. Apparatus for fraying the edge of a woven fabric strip having oppo it ly biased threads, comprising a pair of rotatable wheels adapted to bear peripherally against opposite faces of the strip adjacent said edge, one of said wheels having a peripheral tapered strip engaging surface opposite a complementary tapered peripheral surface of the other wheel, means directing the strip between said surfaces of the wheels, means urging one of said wheels against the other, and means producing rotation of the wheels at differential peripheral speeds to advance the strip between them the higher peripheral speed wheel acting to laterally deflect and free the threads adjacent said edge of the strip to fraythe edge thereof and acting also to ruffle the strip along and adjacent its frayed edge.

16. Apparatus for fraying the edge of a woven fabric strip having oppositely biased threads, comprising a pair of rotatable wheels adapted to bear peripherally against opposite faces of the strip adjacent said edge, means directing the strip between the wheel peripheries, means for rotatably driving one of the wheels to advance the strip between them, one of said wheels having a rough surfae acting to laterally deflect and free the threads adjacent said edge of the strip to fray the edge thereof, and a member engaging and pressing the strip against the surface of the other of the wheels.

17. Apparatus for fraying the edge of a woven fabric strip having oppositely biased threads, comprising a pair of rotatable wheels adapted to bear peripherally against opposite faces of the strip adiacent said edge, means directing the strip between the wheel peripheries, means for rotatably driving one of the wheels to advance the strip between them, one of said wheels having a rou h surface acting to laterally deflect and free the threads adjacent said edge of the strip to fray the edge thereof, and an endless movable member engaging and pressing the strip against the surfa e of the other of the wheels.

18. Apparatus for fraying the edge of a woven fabric strip having opposit ly biased threads, comprising a pair of rotatable wheels adapted to bear peripherally against opposite faces of the strip adjacent aid edge, means directing the strip between the wheel peripheries, means for rotatably driving one of the wheels to advance the strip between them, one of said wheels having a rough surface acting to laterally deflect and free the threads ad acent said edge of the strip to fray the edge thereof, and an endless belt engaging and pressing the strip against and within a recess in the peripheral surface of the other of the wheels.

19. Apparatus for fraying the edge of a woven fabric strip having oppo itely biased threads, comprising a pair of'rotatable wheels adapted to bear peripherall against oppo ite faces of the strip adiacent said edge, one of said wheels having a peripheral tapered strip engaging surface opposite a complementary tapered peripheral surface of the other wheel, means directing the strip between said surfaces of the wheels, means producing rotation of the wheels at differential peripheral speeds to cause the higher peripheral speed wheel to laterally deflect and free the threads ad acent sa d edge of the strip to fray the edge thereof and acting also to rufiie the strip along and ad acent its frayed edge, and an. endless belt engaging and pressing the strip against and within a recess in the peripheral surface of the lower peripheral speed wheel.

20. Apparatus for fraying the edge of a woven fabric strip having oppositely bia ed threads, comprising a pair of rotatable wheelsadapted to bear peripherall against op o ite face of the strip adjacent said edge, one of said wheels hav-- ing a peripheral tapered strip engaging surface opposite a complementary tapered peripheral surface of the other wheel, means directing the strip between said surfaces of the wheels, means producing rotation of the wheels at differential peripheral speeds duringv advancement of the strip between them, said wheels each comprising a compact mass of radial fibers and the higher peripheral speed wheel fibers acting to laterally deflect and free the threads adjacent said edge of the strip to fray the edge thereof and acting also to ruffle the strip along and adjacent its frayed edge, and an endless belt engaging and pressing the strip against and within a recess in the peripheral surface of the lower peripheral speed.

THOMAS G. NANSON.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 663,210 Young Dec. 4, 1900 718,459 Horlacher Jan. 13, 1903 g FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 547,298 Great Britain Aug. 21, 1942 

